LONDON, October 5. /Dunyo IA/.  The world-renowned “Financial Times” newspaper has published an article highlighting Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen its cultural influence through the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Article focuses on the new Centre for Contemporary Arts in Tashkent, highlighting it as one of the most prominent manifestations of Uzbekistan’s cultural renaissance and the country’s ambition to strengthen its position as a cultural centre of Central Asia.

Author notes Tashkent’s unique architecture, which took shape following the 1966 earthquake, when Soviet architects combined modern and Brutalist forms with motifs drawn from traditional Uzbek architecture. In this context, particular attention is paid to the historic building housing the Centre for Contemporary Arts, which was constructed in 1912 as a generator station for the first tram network in Central Asia.

Building, which had remained abandoned for many years, was reimagined by the French architecture studio Studio KO, known, among other projects, for the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech. As the “Financial Times” notes, the architects managed to preserve the historic brickwork and industrial character of the structure while creating a contemporary exhibition space featuring galleries, an auditorium, a restaurant and an art library.

Publication particularly highlights the architectural design of the Centre: the combination of the original brickwork with new concrete, terrazzo and metal elements, arched windows and a spacious central hall. In the author’s assessment, space differs from the prevalent post-industrial aesthetic, appearing more refined, richly layered and expressive.

“Financial Times” also draws attention to the international character of the Centre’s inaugural exhibition. It features works by foreign and Uzbek artists, including Tunisian artist Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Saudi artist Muhannad Shono and Uzbek ceramicist Shokhrukh Rakhimov.

Article emphasises that the opening of the Centre is part of Uzbekistan’s broader cultural policy. In recent years, museums and theatres have been actively developed across the country, historic monuments have been restored, and an international contemporary art biennale has been launched in Bukhara. In addition, a new National Museum is under construction in Tashkent, designed by the world-renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

In conclusion, author notes that the new Centre for Contemporary Arts reflects a complex combination of historical heritage, contemporary architecture and Tashkent’s cultural ambitions. According to the “Financial Times”, at the opening of the exhibition, the building itself becomes a key element of the display, offering a compelling illustration of the capital’s cultural transformation.